Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: jhg on June 26, 2011, 07:53:00 PM

Title: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: jhg on June 26, 2011, 07:53:00 PM
The best LIGHTWEIGHT rain jacket?

Think elk hunting. Think having to carry this thing in a pack, a lot of the time climbing mountains.

 Can be something other than camo- Black. Green. Brown.

I would rate light weight over quiet.

Venting over breathable fabric.

Should be reasonably made to withstand some bush whacking.

Thanks

Joshua
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: DWT on June 26, 2011, 08:06:00 PM
After elk hunting for alot of years in colorado I have come to the conclusion its best to buy the 3 dollar rain ponchos and have a few of them with you. I have tried several different brands of rain gear and find nothing that is truly rainproof that it isnt derived from rubber. Ihave tried high dollar stuff and it wasnt better than the cheap stuff and nothing is as light as a plastic poncho. If it is raining real hard you shouldnt be poking holes in elk anyway as recovery becomes almost impossible in the vasness of elk country. Just my humble opinion,Don.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 26, 2011, 08:18:00 PM
nope, not for under a hunnerd buck$, 'cause imo gore-tex and rain just go together, and gore-tex just ain't cheap.  i always hated noisy plastic rain gear and that clammy feeling.

i use a cabela's made-in-china mt-50 gore-tex 'quiet pack' rain jacket from cabelas.  it has an attached hood, zipper up the front and brass snap buttons to close off the zipper flap.  it works just fine, allows for good inside air circulation (this is very important!), keeps me good 'n' dry in a down pour, and is quite lightweight.  however, after two years of rather light use, the female part of the snap buttons have all fallen off ... just not well installed.  

     (http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_930583_055_01?rgn=0,0,1616,2000&scl=5.2631578947368425&fmt=jpeg&id=0aoTy7rsmrRduYtdRaQm-T)
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: team fudd on June 26, 2011, 08:43:00 PM
might want to look at frog toggs,  whole set is around 65 bucks. Not super quiet but very light and pretty durable.  Pretty sure it is made of tyvek,  that stuff they wrap houses with.  I bought a set to go bear hunting with this spring and they work.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: longbowben on June 26, 2011, 08:45:00 PM
Yes look at frog toggs cabelas has them on sale all the time for $29.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Bobaru on June 26, 2011, 09:15:00 PM
Just picked up a nice camo rain jacket from Bass Pro Shop for about $ 30.00.  It's very light.  It's made of urethane coated nylon.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 26, 2011, 09:30:00 PM
the very last urethane coated nylon 'rain jacket' i had was a peter storm - oh yeah, it was totally waterproof ... and noisy, and with tons of perspiration soaking me from the inside out.  never again.  super soft, 'breathable' rain gear is the ONLY way to go, FOR ME!  this is just one of those things more than worth the money and not worth skimping on.  imho.  ymmv.  ;)
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: RedShaft on June 26, 2011, 09:59:00 PM
cabelas dryplus it has treated me very well, lasted a long time, still is... and quiet and breathable.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Lost Arra on June 26, 2011, 10:05:00 PM
Brief occasional showers or extended soaking rains?

Makes a difference.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: USAFdad on June 27, 2011, 12:29:00 AM
Always had good luck with Frogg Toggs. From Arizona to Alaska drizzle to downpour they've kept me dry. After a few washings and running thru the brush they'll fuzz up and get fairly quiet. Only a pound pants and top reasonably packable and as said above, only $65.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Smallwood on June 27, 2011, 01:41:00 AM
from personal experience, I either use cabelas mt-50 rain gear or army surplus goretex raingear.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: moththerlode on June 27, 2011, 01:41:00 AM
Garbage bag .. 18 to a box
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Jack Guard on June 27, 2011, 01:47:00 AM
If you really only wanted to spend 100 Bucks I would buy the Marmot PreCip ( 14 ounces as advertised on REI).  I have owned one since 1996 when i did my first long trip to Bosnia,  I have since carried the same jacket and pants around half of Europe and the Middle East, not to mention its my go to jacket for backpacking and back country trips ( fishing and hunting).  Some of you are saying, Middle East !  Rain ?   oh yeah man, it can come down and it can rain for days.   I believe it made Backpacker Magazines Editors choice award.  There are plenty of reviews on the internet, some good and some bad.   Additionally you can purchase matching pants (12 ounces) for approximately $90

Frog Toggs are pretty darn good also and can be found very inexpensively at times.  

A couple fo thought i would like to leave you with.  Buying a Jacket made to protect you from the elements, a rain jacket can be a decision that can save you from hours of discomfort and potentially save your life.  That might sound drastic but is true.  If i really could only spend 100 Bucks on my rain jacket i would probably buy the Marmot.  BUT, i would much rather save and work a little overtime, take my lunch to work, skip eating out for a month or two, or three, to buy a higher quality piece of rain gear.  Thats easy for me to say cause its not my money being spent.  

Kuiu, Sitka Gear, Arc'teryx  and many others, to name a few, have developed outerwear to protect us more effectively.  These jacket are tougher, more water repellent, and last many more years than there less expensive counterparts.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 27, 2011, 06:20:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by moththerlode:
Garbage bag .. 18 to a box
:laughing:    :laughing:    :laughing:    :laughing:    :laughing:    :laughing:
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: bfrbmj on June 27, 2011, 11:07:00 AM
I agree with Jack about the Marmot precip.  It is not the most rugged, but is relatively cheap.  I have used it for backpacking quite a bit.  Not made for bushwacking but good for trail use.  Garbage pack definitely for a pack cover.
Brian
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Onions on June 27, 2011, 11:24:00 AM
I have had a few friends with Cabelas Space Rain. Quite waterproof, but not real tough.
I wore Team Realtree's Rubline Paclite Goretex jkt in Southeast last fall. Rained every day, all day, kept me totally dry. Bought the jkt. for $80 (regular price is around $175) on camofire.
Grunden's Petras series will keep you totally dry, but doesn't breathe well.
I agree with Jack G., if you have to save for a extra month or two it's worth it for good raingear.

chris <><
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: skilonbw on June 27, 2011, 12:13:00 PM
I lie to wait for the specials from golite and grab there raincoat last a rally long time for hiking just not as quiet for hunting so i put a shirt over it. I also found at basspro a mad dog jacket for under $100 that is light and comfortable.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Steve H. on June 27, 2011, 01:43:00 PM
Peter Storm
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: KentuckyTJ on June 27, 2011, 02:23:00 PM
I would steer clear of the Frogg Toggs. I have a camo set and unless they have changed them this year it is very loud fabric and I'd say very difficult to get drawn on a deer unless it was very windy.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: bowgy on June 27, 2011, 03:26:00 PM
I bought the frogs togs last year.  I wouldn't hunt in it if I wasn't sitting still it's  too noisy.  The pants and jacket in the stuff bag measure 13"x8"  I found it to be way too big for my daypack.  It fits but really fills it up.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: TommyBoy on June 27, 2011, 03:53:00 PM
GoreTex can be cheap if you buy surplus. I have a German flecktarn rainsuit from Sportsmansguide that is the bee's knees. $30 for the jacket - another $20 for the pants.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: PaddyMac on June 27, 2011, 03:58:00 PM
TommyBoy for the win!

That's a heck of a deal...
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 27, 2011, 07:05:00 PM
fwiw, be aware those sportsmanguide german gore-tex suits are used gear.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: toddster on June 28, 2011, 09:55:00 AM
I have found that all the guys statements here are true.  I have used cheap and expensive rain gear, from garbage bags, ponchos, to helly hanson, to gortex.  I have found that no rain gear is totally quiet, a must for hunting.  Two, the gortex over time will "leak".  In a day of drizzle, I love my wool, yes will get damp, but stay warm!!  Garbage bags and ponchos work great.  Have heard mixed reviews on rivers west, but said to be tough.  for the money, and my experiance, nothing is waterproof that will breath (an oxy-moron).  If you cann't stay dry, then stay warm!  The guys who hunt the north and alaska will tell you that.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: ammoeater on June 28, 2011, 03:17:00 PM
Another vote for Marmot!  For sale on the campmor website right now for $70.  Looks like black is available...  Good deal!
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: Kentucky Jeff on June 28, 2011, 03:19:00 PM
I got a whole frog toggs camo rainsuit off their website for like $45.   It packs small and lightweight too...
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: on June 28, 2011, 04:27:00 PM
Go to Bass Pro online-- they have numerous lightweight rain jackets, some with Gore Tex, under $100. I have one from a few years back and it's still going strong.
Title: Re: The BEST, lightweight, under $100 rainjacket??
Post by: pow-bow on June 29, 2011, 03:37:00 PM
Grundens Petrus - 24 years of SE Alaska rain and I'm still dry.  Anything that ends in TEX will eventually fail you.